Nail Shaper for Ingrown Nail and False Nail

ABSTRACT

An extremely easy-to-handle nail shaper ( 1 ) for an ingrown a nail which can be attached to and detached from a nail easily without requiring any special tool, and a false nail using the nail shaper ( 1 ). The nail shaper ( 1 ) is attached to the surface of a nail (A) and has a body portion ( 2 ) formed of a spring plate material with a width corresponding to the width of the nail (A). A pair of right and left retainers ( 3, 3 ) turned downward are provided on the opposite sides at the distal edge ( 2   f ) of the body portion ( 2 ). A groove ( 6 ) into which a nail tip is received and retained is formed between each retainer ( 3, 3 ) and the body portion ( 2 ). With the nail tip received in the groove ( 6 ), the body portion ( 2 ) deflects to generate a restoring force on the opposite sides, thus shaping the nail (A) into the normal form.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a nail shaper for ingrown nails which is used to shape an ingrown nail into its normal form, and a false nail to be used with the nail shaper.

BACKGROUND ART

As shown in FIG. 18, among the finger and toe nails, the big toe nail A tends to deform so that its side edges. A1 and A2 are curved toward each other. The nail A deformed as such is generally referred to as an “ingrown nail,” which may not only look ugly but also push particularly the distal end portion of the side edges A1 and A2 against the toe tip to break into the skin, thereby causing inflammation accompanied by pain.

Conventionally, ingrown nails of this type have been reformed or medically treated under the supervision of medical doctors. As shown in FIG. 18, a wire B is placed at the distal end portion of the nail A, so that the wire B can straighten the ingrown nail A.

However, the aforementioned reforming method using the wire B is carried out under the supervision of medical doctors and cannot be followed by the patient himself or herself. Furthermore, since there are several levels of symptom of ingrown nails, it is inevitable that the doctor will give a medical treatment if the ingrown nail is at a serious level. However, if it is at a minor level, the patient himself or herself can reform or improve the ingrown nail or shape the nail without the help of a doctor.

Conventionally, a method for allowing the patient himself or herself to reform ingrown nails has been attempted. In this method, a deflected plate spring is adhered to the surface of the nail with an adhesive to exert the restoring force of the plate spring on the nail, thereby reforming the deformed nail into the normal shape.

However, there is a problem with this method that the plate spring attached to the nail can be easily stripped off the surface thereof. To solve this problem, another method has also been suggested in which a hardening agent is applied to the surface of the nail so as to cover the surface of the reform plate which has been adhered to the surface of the nail (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-66003

However, a reforming instrument of this type requires the use of an applicator such as a brush to apply the hardening agent as well as a sharp-pointed jig to strip the reform plate off the nail. This raised a problem that the reforming instrument was time-consuming when attached to and detached from the nail and not easy to handle.

The present invention was developed in view of the aforementioned problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an extremely easy-to-handle nail shaper for ingrown nails which can be attached to and detached from a nail easily without requiring any special tool, and a false nail to be used with the nail shaper.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to the present invention is attached to a surface of a nail and has a body portion formed of a spring plate material with a width corresponding to a width of the nail. A retainer turned downward is provided at least on opposite sides at a distal edge of the body portion. A groove into which a nail tip is received and retained is formed between the retainer and the body portion. With the nail tip received in the groove, the body portion deflects to generate a restoring force on the opposite sides.

According to the nail shaper configured as described above, when the retainer is fitted from above over the distal edge of the nail grown to some extent, the nail tip is received into the groove between the retainer and the body portion, so that the nail shaper is kept attached to the surface of the nail. With the nail tip received in the groove, the body portion elastically deflects and generates a restoring force on the opposite sides of the body portion, thereby straightening the ingrown nail to reform the nail into its normal shape.

Accordingly, since the nail shaper configured as described above can be attached to and detached from a nail without requiring any special tool, the patients themselves can reform or improve their ingrown nail or shape the nail without the help of a doctor.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a surface of the body portion is decoratively colored. According to this embodiment, when attached to an ingrown nail, the nail shaper can prevent the nail from looking ugly. In addition to the reformation of the ingrown nail into the normal shape as described above, this makes the nail look smart.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rear surface of the body portion is an adhesive face which can be adhered to the surface of the nail. This adhesive surface can be formed, for example, by affixing double-faced sticky tape to the rear surface of the body portion. According to this embodiment, the body portion can be prevented from being dislocated, and the nail tip is stably kept received in the groove. It is thus possible to prevent the nail shaper from being dislodged, ensuring that the restoring force generated on the opposite sides of the body portion can be exerted on the nail.

In a preferred embodiment, to allow the body portion to easily deflect, at least one of the distal edge and a proximal edge of the body portion is constricted inwardly in the middle of the width thereof.

Furthermore, in another preferred embodiment, since the thickness of a nail depends on individual patients, the groove is configured such that its groove opening is opened by the retainer being pushed open depending on a thickness of the nail.

A nail shaper according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a sheet-like cover which is adhered to the surface of the nail while covering the body portion. In this embodiment, the cover enables the body portion to be held in intimate contact with the surface of the nail. It is thus possible not only to prevent the body portion from being dislodged but also to eliminate the possibility of part of the peripheral edge of the body portion being peeled and caught by a sock or the like.

A nail shaper according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes an adhesive bandage which is wound around a digit and adhered to a surface of the digit while covering the body portion. In this embodiment, the adhesive bandage enables the body portion to be held in intimate contact with the surface of a nail. It is thus possible not only to prevent the body portion from being dislodged but also to eliminate the possibility of part of the peripheral edge of the body portion being peeled and caught by a sock or the like. In addition, the adhesive bandage allows the middle part of the body portion to be pushed against the surface of the nail, and this pressure acts to warp the opposite sides of the body portion, thereby providing an enhanced capability of straightening the ingrown nail.

Preferably, the adhesive bandage includes a sheet-like base material having an adhesive face, and a paper separator which is detachably affixed to the adhesive face of the sheet-like base material so as to cover the adhesive face. The sheet-like base material has a pad fixed on the adhesive face in a lengthwise middle part thereof. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and such a base material having no pad may also be employed.

An adhesive bandage provided with a pad may be impregnated or coated with a medicine such as a wound healing drug at least at both end portions of the pad. This makes it possible to simultaneously conduct medical treatment for the wound portions caused by the edges of the ingrown nail.

The nail shaper according to the present invention can constitute a false nail with a nail plate having a shape of a nail and securing means for fixing the nail plate to a surface of the nail shaper. According to this embodiment, the nail shaper allows the nail to be shaped, and the nail plate provides a fashionable nail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a nail shaper in use, serving as one example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating the nail shaper.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the nail shaper attached to a nail.

FIG. 5 is a rear view illustrating another example of a nail shaper.

FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating yet another example of a nail shaper.

FIG. 7 is a rear view illustrating yet another example of a nail shaper.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another example of a nail shaper.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating yet another example of a nail shaper.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating yet another example of a nail shaper.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the nail shaper of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the nail shaper of FIG. 10 attached to a nail.

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating another example of an adhesive bandage.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of an adhesive bandage.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a sheet-like base material.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating another method for fixing a body portion.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a false nail in use, serving as one example of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional method for reforming an ingrown nail.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the outer appearance of a nail shaper 1 in use, serving as one example of the present invention.

As illustrated, the nail shaper 1 is attached to the surface of an ingrown nail A to reform or improve the nail or reshape the form of the nail. The nail shaper 1 is formed of a spring plate material such as a metal plate of steel or stainless steel or a synthetic resin plate in a width d corresponding to a width D of the nail A (where d<D).

A body portion 2 of the nail shaper 1 is formed in the shape of a flat plate or slightly curved along the shape of the surface of the nail A. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the body portion 2 has a distal edge 2 f turned downward on the opposite sides to integrally form a pair of right and left retainers 3, 3. Between the right and left retainers 3, 3 of the distal edge 2 f of the body portion 2, there is formed a constricted portion 4 which is constricted inwardly. Likewise, there is also formed a constricted portion 5 on a proximal edge 2 b of the body portion 2, so that the presence of the constricted portions 4, 5 enables the body portion 2 to readily deflect in the widthwise middle portion.

The surface of the body portion 2 is a decorative surface 2 a which is decoratively colored. This decorative surface 2 a may be formed by printing or formed by a seal being affixed thereto.

Between the retainers 3, 3 and the body portion 2, there are formed grooves 6, 6 into which the distal end portion of the nail A is received and caught. Each retainer 3 has an arc-shaped turndown portion, where the end of the arc-shaped portion 3 a is opened to form an opening 3 b. The groove 6 has a depth t which is the greatest at the arc-shaped portion 3 a and the narrowest at a corner-shaped portion 3 c between the arc-shaped portion 3 a and the opening 3 b. The opening 3 b is formed to have a distal edge pushed open so that the nail A can be easily received therein.

At each of the right and left retainers 3, 3, the opening 3 b is pushed open according to the thickness of the nail A, thereby allowing any nail A different in thickness to be received into the groove 6. Furthermore, the corner portion 3 c is in contact with the rear surface of the nail A and pushed against it by the restoring force of the retainer 3, thereby retaining the nail A in the groove 6 to prevent the nail A from dislodging therefrom.

The nail shaper 1 according to the example shown in FIG. 5 is formed such that each of the right and left retainers 3, 3 is set to a small width, and the constricted portion 4 on the distal edge 2 f side is formed generally across the entire width.

Note that in the two examples described above, the constricted portions 4, 5 are formed along the distal edge 2 f and the proximal edge 2 b of the body portion 2, respectively. However, as shown in FIG. 6, only the constricted portion 4 may be formed on the distal edge 2 f, or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, only the constricted portion 5 may be formed on the proximal edge 2 b.

Furthermore, in each of the aforementioned examples, the opposite sides of the distal edge 2 f of the body portion 2 are turned downward to integrally form the pair of right and left retainers 3, 3. However, as with the example shown in FIG. 7, the distal edge 2 f of the body portion 2 may be turned downward across its entire width to integrally form one retainer 3.

The nail shaper 1 according to the present invention is formed of a spring plate material. Accordingly, the body portion 2 is flexible, so that the body portion 2 can be adjustably curved or deflected as appropriate depending on the size or the shape of the surface of the nail A. With the distal end portion of the nail A received in the right and left grooves 6, a body portion 2 is set to be formed in a manner such that the body portion 2 covers the surface of the nail A, and the opposite sides are deflected downward relative to the widthwise middle part of the body portion 2. On the opposite sides of the body portion 2, the restoring force F (see FIG. 4) caused by the body portion 2 being elastically deformed is generated so as to push up the side edges of the nail A. Thus, depending on the magnitude of the restoring force required to shape the nail, the body portion 2 is adjustably curved or deflected.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the present invention.

As illustrated, the nail shaper 1 is configured such that a double-faced sticky tape 20 is affixed to the rear surface of the body portion 2, while an adhesive face 21 which the double-faced sticky tape 20 can adhere to the surface of the nail A is formed on the rear surface of the body portion 2. Note that although not illustrated, before the nail shaper 1 is used, a paper separator has been affixed to the adhesive face 21.

FIG. 9 shows still another example of the nail shaper 1.

As illustrated, the nail shaper 1 is configured such that a sheet-like cover 11 is affixed to the surface of the nail A while covering the body portion 2. The cover 11 is formed of a transparent material when the surface of the body portion 2 is decoratively colored, whereas the cover 11 is formed of an opaque material when the surface of the cover 11 is decoratively colored. The back face of the cover 11 is provided with an adhesive face which can be adhered to the surface of the body portion 2 and the nail A.

Note that each exemplary configuration shown in the figures up to FIG. 8 can be applied to the body portion 2 of this example.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show still another example of the present invention.

As illustrated, the nail shaper 1 has the body portion 2 and further includes an adhesive bandage 13 which is wound around a digit C and affixed to the surface of the digit C while covering the body portion 2. As illustrated, the adhesive bandage 13 includes a sheet-like base material 15 having an adhesive face 14, and a pair of right and left paper separators 16, 16 which are detachably affixed to the adhesive face 14 of the sheet-like base material 15 so as to cover the adhesive face 14. A pad 17 is fixed to the adhesive face 14 in the lengthwise middle part of the sheet-like base material 15. Note that the surface of the sheet-like base material 15 may be decorated.

As the sheet-like base material 15, it is possible to employ a plastic sheet such as of polyvinyl chloride resin, polyurethane-based resin, polyethylene-based resin, polypropylene-based resin, or polyacrylic resin as well as woven fabric or nonwoven fabric, although the invention is not limited thereto. Any material can be employed if it is soft and flexible. As an adhesive for forming the adhesive face 14, it is possible to use an acrylic adhesive or a rubber-based adhesive such as natural rubber. Note that the adhesive face 14 may contain a medicine.

Furthermore, the pad 17 is made of a sheet material such as of nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, gauze, cotton, open-celled foam or the like.

As the paper separator 16, it is possible to use, for example, a paper-base material such as high-quality paper or medium-quality paper, which is processed with silicone release agent, or polyester film or polyethylene film without being limited to a particular material.

A double-faced sticky tape 18 is affixed to the surface of the body portion 2, thereby forming an adhesive face 19 with the double-faced sticky tape 18. Note that although not illustrated, before the nail shaper 1 is used, a paper separator has been affixed to the adhesive face 19.

Note that in the aforementioned example, the body portion 2 configured as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is used. However, without being limited thereto, the body portion 2 of each example shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 may also be employed. The same holds true for the following examples shown in FIGS. 14 to 16.

To bond the body portion 2 and the pad 17 of the adhesive bandage 13 together, the double-faced sticky tape 18 may be used. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the adhesive face 19 of an adhesive may be formed on the surface of the pad 17 to bond the body portion 2 to the adhesive face 19. In the example of FIG. 13, the adhesive face 19 is formed on the entire surface except both end portions of the pad 17, while both end portions of the pad 17 are impregnated or coated with a medicine, thereby forming medicine-containing portions 23, 23.

As the medicine, it is desirable to employ germicide or antiseptic, or a wound healing drug which is useful and effective for medical treatment for a wound portion of a tip toe caused by the ingrown nail.

An example shown in FIG. 14 is configured such that an elastic body 24 such as of rubber or foam is interposed between the sheet-like base material 15 and the pad 17. The elastic restoring force of the elastic body 24 exerts pressure on the middle part of the body portion 2, and the pressure acts to warp the opposite sides of the body portion 2, thereby providing enhanced capability of straightening the ingrown nail.

In each example shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, the one configured such that the pad 17 is fixed onto the adhesive face 14 in the lengthwise middle part of the sheet-like base material 15 is used as the adhesive bandage 13, although the invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to use such an adhesive bandage that is provided with no pad as shown in FIG. 15. The sheet-like base material 15 may be a transparent material when the surface of the body portion 2 is decorated. This allows the decorated surface of the body portion 2 can be viewed from outside, thereby providing enhanced decorative effects.

Furthermore, in the example of the type where the pad 17 is fixed to the adhesive bandage 13, the body portion 2 is fixedly attached to the pad 17 of the sheet-like base material 15 via an adhesive. However, as shown in FIG. 16, the pad 17 may be provided with a notch 25 or the like, thereby forming a pocket 26 which can receive and hold the body portion 2. In this case, the pocket 26 is set to a depth at which only the retainer 3 is exposed to outside.

FIG. 17 shows a false nail 10 for which the nail shaper 1 according to the present invention is used. As illustrated, the false nail 10 is configured such that a nail plate 12 of a synthetic resin having the shape of the nail is fixed to the surface of the body portion 2 of the nail shaper 1 via an adhesive. Note that the securing means for fixing the nail plate 12 to the surface of the nail shaper 1 needs not to be always an adhesive. For example, it is also acceptable to interpose a hook-and-loop fastener between the surface of the nail shaper 1 and the back face of the nail plate 12 for engagement with each other.

Note that the nail shaper 1 of the false nail 10 can employ each embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8.

To attach the nail shaper 1 of each configuration described above to the surface of the nail A, the right and left retainers 3, 3 are engaged from above with the distal edge of the nail A grown to some extent. This allows the distal end portion of the nail A to be received and retained in the groove 6 between the retainer 3 and the body portion 2, with the body portion 2 covering the surface of the nail A. With the nail tip received in the groove 6, the opposite sides elastically deflect downward relative to the widthwise middle part of the body portion 2. As a result, a restoring force is generated on the opposite sides of the body portion 2 to push upwardly the side edges of the nail A, thereby straightening the ingrown nail A into the normal shape. 

1. A nail shaper for an ingrown nail, attached to a surface of a nail, the nail shaper comprising a body portion formed of a spring plate material with a width corresponding to a width of the nail, with a retainer turned downward and provided at least on opposite sides at a distal edge of the body portion, a groove into which a nail tip is received and retained being formed between the retainer and the body portion, and with the nail tip received in the groove, the body portion deflecting to generate a restoring force on the opposite sides.
 2. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the body portion is decoratively colored.
 3. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the body portion is an adhesive face which can be adhered to the surface of the nail.
 4. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the distal edge and a proximal edge of the body portion is constricted inwardly in the middle of the width thereof.
 5. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, wherein the groove is configured such that a groove opening is opened by the retainers being pushed open depending on a thickness of the nail.
 6. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet-like cover which is adhered to the surface of the nail while covering the body portion.
 7. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive bandage which is wound around a digit and adhered to a surface of the digit while covering the body portion.
 8. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive bandage which is wound around a digit and adhered to a surface of the digit while covering the body portion, and wherein the adhesive bandage includes a sheet-like base material having an adhesive face, and a paper separator which is detachably affixed to the adhesive face of the sheet-like base material so as to cover the adhesive face, with the sheet-like base material having a pad fixed on the adhesive face in a lengthwise middle part thereof.
 9. The nail shaper for an ingrown nail according to claim 8, wherein the pad is impregnated or coated with a medicine at least at both end portions of the pad.
 10. A false nail comprising a nail shaper for an ingrown nail, attached to a surface of a nail, a nail plate having a shape of the nail, and securing means for fixing the nail plate to a surface of the nail shaper, the nail shaper for an ingrown nail comprising a body portion formed of a spring plate material with a width corresponding to a width of the nail, with a retainer turned downward and provided at least on opposite sides at a distal edge of the body portion, a groove into which a nail tip is received and retained being formed between the retainer and the body portion; and with the nail tip received in the groove, the body portion deflecting to generate a restoring force on the opposite sides. 